Element Web vs JSXC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Element Web
Glossy Matrix client for the web and desktop
VS
JSXC
JavaScript XMPP client for the browser
| Feature | Element Web | JSXC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 12 · At risk |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,502 | ★ 731 |
| First released | 2016 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams | Slack |
What are Element Web and JSXC?
Element Web
Element Web is the flagship Matrix client, providing a polished interface for chat, voice, and video over the Matrix protocol. It can be self-hosted alongside a homeserver for a fully owned communication stack.
- Full-featured Matrix client
- End-to-end encryption
- Voice and video calls
- Customizable branding
JSXC
JSXC is a real-time XMPP chat application that runs in the browser and can be integrated into web platforms like Nextcloud and SOGo. It supports OTR and OMEMO encryption.
- Browser-based XMPP client
- OTR and OMEMO encryption
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Audio and video via WebRTC
Element Web vs JSXC: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Element Web versus MIT for JSXC. JSXC is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Element Web. JSXC is the more established project (first released 2013), while Element Web arrived in 2016. Element Web has the considerably larger community, at 13,502 GitHub stars versus 731. Element Web lists first-class Docker deployment; JSXC does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Element Web if…
- Most mature Matrix client
- Active development
Watch out for
- Heavier than minimal clients
- Best paired with own homeserver
Choose JSXC if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Needs an XMPP backend
- Integration-focused
Frequently asked questions
Is Element Web or JSXC better?
Element Web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider JSXC if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Element Web and JSXC free and open-source?
Yes. Element Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and JSXC under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Element Web and JSXC with Docker?
Element Web: yes. JSXC: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Element Web or JSXC?
JSXC has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Element Web. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.